recipes and measurements

[horn section]

When I really first started cooking I use to call my parents and ask them how to make some dishes they used to make. I would always get frustrated with them because they never really had exact measurements or times. Not having much cooking experience I messed some things up because I didn't know. But through trial and error I can get a recipe from them now and have an idea what needs to happen. But it really used to piss me off that they didn't now times and measurements

I just gave a friend a recipe of mine and did the same exact thing to him. I don't use exact times or measurements. I cook to taste and until the right doneness. I could tell that this was really frustrating him because I didn't know. I let him know I understood his frustration and tried to approximate but honestly I'm not sure if they were right.

Even when I do look at an exact recipe, I might go by it the first time and then after that adjust to my liking. And the next time it's going by memory and taste.

I guess I became my parents (which isn't a bad thing) and was wondering if any of you do the same thing?

 

[YChang]

I think just about everyone cooks like that, which is why cooking is so much more forgiving than baking when it comes to time and measurements.

 

[HornBud]

cooking is art, baking is science.

 

[TXHookem]

I might be very exact the first time I use a recipe but I'll then start tweaking it and making it my own... in some cases, I'll take a look at the original recipe and start modifying before I've made it once. Agree about the art...

 

[SAChick]

In reply to:

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[uisge beatha]

I never use a recipe exactly on even the first try because I know my taste - I'll always go heavier on some things like garlic, mushrooms, and hot peppers. Will cut back on bell peppers and tomatoes